One of Eliot's most prominent buildings is the result of the bequest of one of its native born sons.
Dr. John S.H. Fogg held kindly memories of his native town, Eliot, and provided for the erection and maintenance of a free public library, to bear his father's well-remembered name, the William Fogg Library.
Dr. Fogg was the son of William and Betsy (Hill) Fogg; John Fogg was born in Eliot, may 21, 1826, and died in South Boston, October 10, 1893. The last 20 years of his life, Dr. Fogg was paralyzed completely in the lower limbs, being unable to stand or walk. He bore the great affliction uncomplainingly, and busied himself with his books and autographs.
His wife, Mary (daughter of the Rev. Joseph H. Clinch, Rector of St. Matthews, South Boston), assisted him with rare devotion, even refraining, for nearly 10 years, from leaving him to go into the street. Mr. Libby, a book and autograph expert, claimed that Mrs. Fogg was probably "The most thoroughly educated woman in history and biography in this country."
Dr. Fogg's early education was obtained in the district school (#5) and in the Academy, which was near his home. A memorial concerning the Academy and another about the Fogg residence can be found near the fork in the road at the library intersection. During his college course, he tested his genius and skill by teaching school several terms. After his graduation in medicine, he settled in South Boston and rose rapidly in his profession. His was a most successful career.
He was a gentleman; amiable, courteous, kind and philosophic with fine face, attractive countenance, a bright, expressive eye, soft voice, and he was a genial man. He was a scholar too, of cultivated taste; and along certain lines possessed great knowledge, especially as a genealogist, historian, and collector of autographs; in the last, the collection of autographs, his superiority amounted to genius. The great feat of his unusual collection was the forming of a complete set of signatures of the signers of the Declaration of independence. He turned his attention to it in 1875; his efforts ended with the most gratifying success, in 1881.
He also had the autographs of the Sovereigns of England, from Henry Vll to the most gracious Queen Victoria, the last on the throne while he was living.
A part of his estate showed a life-long characteristic of the man, for it consisted of his rare and valuable books his private library, appraised at his departure at ten thousand dollars. These books are placed upon the shelves of the Fogg Library that is not only is his native town, but is on the very acres that were a part of his father's homestead and his own birthplace.
(The above chapter are notes from "Old Eliot" written be Dr. John Willis. and "A View Of Eliot's Past" by Edward H. Vetter)